The predawn quiet of a
rainy, peaceful Sunday morning, June 25, 1950, was abruptly shattered
by artillery, mortar and automatic weapons fire as North Korean forces
attacked without warning. The invading North Koreans quickly breached
the 38th parallel and forcing lightly-armed Republic of Korea Army
forces to retreat toward their capital of Seoul.
Two days later, acting on
a request from the United States, the United Nations Security Council
called on the countries of the world to unite and assist in driving
the invader from the ROK. In its resolution, the UN Security Council
named the United States as executive agent to implement the resolution
and direct UN military operations in Korea.
Even before the UN
resolution passed, President Harry S. Truman, recognizing a threat to
the free world, determined the U.S. could no longer remain neutral
while communist powers trampled the free nations of the world ordered
General of the Army Douglas MacArthur, Commander-in-Chief, Far East
Command, to provide whatever assistance was needed to repel this
invasion. General MacArthur committed U.S. air and naval forces within
hours of the attack. Following passage of the UN resolution, on July
24, in Tokyo, General MacArthur established General Headquarters,
United Nations Command.
By then, the UN had issued
a further appeal to all member nations to provide what military and
other aid they could to assist the ROK Government in repelling the
invaders. The first ground troops to enter battle on the side of the
ROK were advance elements of the U.S. 21st Infantry Regiment, 24th
Infantry Division. Units were airlifted from occupation duties in
Japan to form "Task Force Smith." The unit was committed on
July 5th a few miles north of Osan.
The first battles were a
disaster so, in the face of overpowering enemy strength, the UNC
fought delaying actions as ROK and U.S. units withdrew down the
peninsula. Outnumbered and out-gunned, they traded lives and space for
time as they waited for the pledged assistance from other countries of
the UN.
On August 29, 1950, the
British Commonwealth's 27th Brigade arrived at Pusan to join the UNC,
which until then included only ROK and U.S. forces. The 27th Brigade
moved into the Naktong River line west of Taegu.
Troop units from other
countries of the UN followed in rapid succession; Australia, Belgium,
Canada, Colombia, Ethiopia, France, Greece, Luxembourg, the
Netherlands, New Zealand, the Philippines, Thailand and Turkey. The
Union of South Africa provided air units which fought along side the
air forces of other member nations. Denmark, India, Norway, and Sweden
provided medical units. Italy provided a hospital, even though it was
not a UN member.
During the three years of
the Korean War, military forces of these nations fought and died
together as members of the UNC. They fought for the freedom of the
Korean people and to demonstrate UN resolve to stop unprovoked
aggression.
Through the freezing
winters and the sweltering heat of the Korean summers, men from
Britain, Ethiopia, the Republic of Korea, Thailand, Turkey, United
States, and other contributing countries demonstrated individual and
collective heroism in facing human waves of north Korean and Chinese
aggressors. Few battles in the history of modern warfare have wrought
the heartbreak and the frustration of this struggle.
Bloody Ridge, Chosin
Reservoir, Hamhung, Heartbreak Ridge, Hwachan Reservoir, Iron
Triangle, Punch Bowl and Pusan Perimeter -- all were mileposts in the
seesaw battle for Korea's freedom. The dust of Old Baldy was crimsoned
with blood of valiant members of the UNC; the Han and Imjin Rivers ran
red with blood of UN fighting men.
On July 27,1953, the
shooting ended. An armistice was signed at Panmunjom which provided
for the end of the fighting and eventual political settlement of the
war. The shooting ended, but the troops remained, each side pulling
back 2,000 meters from the last line of military contact to insure
peace, to watch the Demilitarized Zone, and to guard against any
resumption of hostilities.
In a green field at
Tanggok, located near the port of Pusan, stand myriad reminders of the
Korean War. Simple white crosses, standing near the sign of the
"Crescent and the Star" and the "Star of David"
are bleak, symbolic representatives of the 33,629 Americans,
numberless Koreans, 717 Turkish soldiers, and 1,109 soldiers of the
United Kingdom who gave their lives during the struggle. Also sharing
this place of honor are the symbols for the dead of the 12 other
nations whose fighting men died to keep Korea free.
